The aim of Phi Beta Delta is to recognize and encourage professional, intellectual and personal achievements in the field of International Education. The society will serve to encourage interdisciplinary and intergenerational contacts and to promote the exchange of ideas and information in the area of international affairs among the students, faculty, and staff of Wright State University.
Phi Beta Delta is the first honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education. Since its founding in 1986, 133 chapters have formed and more than 14,000 members have been installed.
Purpose and Goals
Phi Beta Delta, founded at California State University, Long Beach in 1986, was established as a national organization in 1987 with 38 chartered chapters. It is the first national honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education. As of June of 2002, 133 chapters have been chartered.
The goals of the Society are:
- to recognize the scholarly achievement of international students and scholars, U.S. students who have studied abroad and faculty and staff who are involved in international activities;
- to serve as a vehicle for the development of academic-based international programming;
- to provide a network on each campus of faculty, staff and students involved in international endeavors; and
- to extend this network to thousands of members in chapters across the country and throughout the world.
The Greek letters in Phi Beta Delta stand for the following:
Phi (philomatheia) - love of knowledge;
Beta (biotremmonia) - valuing of human life; and
Delta (diapheren) - achieving excellence.
The colors chosen for the honor society were red and gold. Red symbolizes the strength and diversity of humankind and gold is a symbol for the sun from which all people and cultures draw strength and life.
The Crest of the Society was designed with a globe, a torch, the sun, a book, and a shield.
The globe represents the international perspective of the Society's members. The torch symbolizes the leadership and influence of the Society. The sun stands for the energy from which all cultures draw strength. The book symbolizes the coining and sharing of knowledge. The shield represents the preservation of academic freedom.
The Society's motto -- "Scientia Mutua Mundi "(World's Shared Knowledge) -- is inscribed at the base of the crest.
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